The world needs to stop telling me to be ashamed of my adult acne

‘Good’ skin is the last bastion of unattainable beauty standards. Just as we come in all shapes, sizes and colours, so too do we come with different skin types

Amerley Ollennu
Sunday 07 October 2018 16:55 BST
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Even the uber successful and undeniably attractive among us fall victim to society’s skin-related prejudices
Even the uber successful and undeniably attractive among us fall victim to society’s skin-related prejudices

It’s Monday morning, I’m running late, which has meant a few steps in my morning routine have had to be conducted on the bus – namely putting on my makeup.

As I expertly dab a lime-green-hued crayon (green neutralises red) over a smattering of spots on my forehead and on a whopper that has appeared overnight on my chin, the woman sitting next to me taps me on the arm. “My friend used to have really bad spots like you, but she cut out dairy, and gluten, and now she looks great.” Right, OK, lady, thanks for the unsolicited advice. I smiled and said I’d give that a go; because what else do you say without getting into an uncomfortable conversation with a total stranger who has just acne shamed you in public first thing in the morning?

What I would have loved to have told her is that the condition of my skin is none of her business; that acne is a hormonal issue and that the potent prescription pills and topical skincare I’ve used over the last 15 years have never had a long-lasting effect. Nevertheless, I’m finally at a point in my life where I am happy to walk around makeup free. When I wear makeup it’s as a tool of self-expression (I applied moody black liner post our encounter that I hoped would spell “don’t mess with me today”); my acne no longer depresses me. However, I’d very much prefer if random strangers don’t imply that I don’t look “good” because I still get spots at 34.

“Depressed” may sound like a strong word to use to describe how having acne made me feel, but a recent study by the University of Limerick (Stigma predicts health-related quality of life impairment, psychological distress, and somatic symptoms in acne sufferers), proved a direct link between the perceived negative stigma of having acne and higher levels of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression.In other words, for those with acne who believe there is a high social stigma attached to not having “good” skin, the more likely it is that these individuals have a higher level of distress, anxiety and depression that majorly impacts their lives.

Well, unless you live under a rock, it would be nigh on impossible not to notice society’s obsession with physical perfection. The look of our skin doesn’t simply affect us socially, but professionally too – as falling short of society’s beauty standards can have a direct impact on our earning potential. A Yale University study from Daniel Hamermesh found employers pay a beauty premium to attractive employees. Workers who fall within society’s parameters of beauty earn an average of roughly five per cent more, while “unattractive” employees can miss out on up to almost nine per cent. That on top of the misconception that people with acne are lazy, dirty and unattractive make living with this skin condition harder than it should be.

As a beauty editor I walk the precarious tightrope of reporting on cosmetic trends, treatments and products, while being careful not to promote one overriding idea of beauty. However, if I type “perfect skin” into my inbox, hundreds of press releases can be found. The growth of the skincare market is undeniable and monumental as we move away from relying on makeup to give the illusion of healthy skin. It’s our newfound obsession with health and wellbeing that’s driving our desire for perfect skin – as it’s a visible marker of good health. There is no denying that medically speaking healthy skin is acne-free, but acne is so much more than what you put on the outside and even what you put inside. Even so, gone are the cleanse, tone, moisturise days of old. In its wake are time-consuming rituals that can take up to 13 steps and more. Just as those smug post-workout, green-juice-in-hand social media images health-shame us, those spotless, poreless, post-13-step skincare routine selfies acne-shame us too. This, my friends, is the last bastion of unattainable beauty standards, and no ethnicity is exempt from judgment.

Even the uber successful and undeniably attractive among us fall victim to society’s skin-related prejudices and unattainable beauty standards. When Kendall Jenner turned up at this year’s Golden Globes with a major breakout that simply couldn’t be concealed with makeup, the trolls had a field day. Insults followed, with many questioning why she would leave the house “looking like that”. Rather than ignore the haters, she took to social media and told her fans that they should never let acne or negativity stop them.

Young women like Jenner, Saoirse Ronan – who insisted her acne not be concealed on the set of Lady Bird in order to promote different skin types on screen – and Natalie Portman, who has shared her acne story, are inspiring and brave. So, too, are all the women on social media who refuse to stand in the shadows for fear of judgment and who proudly advocate for skin positivity.

I hope it will send a two-pronged message. First and foremost, to society as a whole that beauty is truly more than skin deep. And, just as we come in all shapes, sizes and colours, so too do we come with different skin types. Most importantly, I hope women everywhere stop letting society categorise us – forget the concept of good skin and bad skin, this is your skin. It doesn’t mean that by accepting yourself just the way you are that you can’t treat your acne in a way that you feel comfortable with. It does mean however, that with self-acceptance and self-love you’ll obtain a greater sense of self-esteem whether you have an acne-free complexion or not – and that is a beautiful thing.

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